21. Luca

CHAPTER 21

LUCA

I stare blankly at the documents strewn across my desk, the words blurring together into meaningless scribbles. Try as I might, I can’t seem to focus on the trade agreements and diplomatic missives that demand my attention.

My mind keeps circling back to Hailey’s revelation this morning. Pregnant. With my child.

The enormity of it threatens to suffocate me.

I never planned for this. Never wanted the complications that a baby would bring. Especially not now, with my ascension to the throne mere weeks away. The scrutiny on me is already intense — I can only imagine the scandal if word leaks of an illegitimate royal conceived out of wedlock.

And yet… a traitorous part of me thrills at the idea of Hailey bearing my child. Of sealing our connection with a new life created from our passion. It would be so easy to cast duty aside, to marry her and claim her and our baby for all the world to see.

I rake a hand through my hair, frustration simmering in my blood. This is wrong; I can’t afford to indulge in such reckless fantasies. Werdenfeld is looking for me to set an example, to be the kind of man their boys can aspire to be. Anything less than a picture-perfect reign could destabilize my country.

I understand it now, why my father was always so reserved, so committed to putting his people before himself. There was, quite simply, no one else who could do the job.

Abruptly, I shove back from my desk and stride to the window. The meticulously groomed palace grounds stretch out below, and I’m sure they’re beautiful, but right now I can’t see it. All I can see is the mess I’ve made of everything.

A sharp knock at the door interrupts my brooding. “Enter,” I call out, not bothering to turn around.

“Your Majesty.” It’s Geoffrey, my chief of staff. “I have the itinerary for your upcoming diplomatic trip to Prague. The Czech president is eager to discuss expanding trade between our nations.”

The trip. Of course. I’d nearly forgotten, consumed as I am by personal turmoil. But now, the idea of putting some distance between myself and Hailey, if only for a few days, fills me with relief.

“Excellent,” I say briskly, finally facing Geoffrey. “See that the arrangements are finalized. I want to leave as soon as possible. Actually… I’d like to leave today. Give myself some time to get settled in once I arrive there.”

Geoffrey bows. “As you wish, sir.” He hesitates, then adds delicately, “Forgive me for overstepping, but is everything all right? You seem… distracted today.”

“I’m fine,” I bite out. The last thing I need is palace gossip about my state of mind. Soon enough, the entire staff will be filled in on my and Hailey’s, ah, new situation; they’ll also be sworn to secrecy regarding it. “Just eager to serve Werdenfeld to the best of my abilities.”

He leaves, and I don’t allow myself to slow down. If I do, I’ll question what I’m doing, and I can’t have that.

Sending some quick messages to inform the important people of my sudden schedule change, I ring the head housekeeper to have her pack for my trip.

And then I go in search of Hailey.

I could send her a message, but that wouldn’t be right. Yes, I’m running away from my problems for a bit, but at least I can let her know that straight to her face.

After a long hunt, I find her in the library, curled up in an armchair with a book. She looks up as I approach, her warm brown eyes searching my face. She says nothing, instead waiting for me to talk.

I don’t blame her. She likely feels that there’s no point in even trying with me. I’ve let her down irreparably.

I take a deep breath. “I have to go away for a few days. Diplomatic trip to Prague.”

Her brow furrows. “Oh. When do you leave?”

“As soon as possible. Probably this evening.” I stuff my hands in my pockets, feeling awkward and unsure. This thing between us… it’s still so complicated, so fraught. And now, with the baby on the way, the intricacies of it are a sea of knots.

Hailey sets her book aside, and I see that it’s a nonfiction about navigating challenging times — a knife to my heart.

She stands up, coming closer. “Is this about… about the pregnancy? Are you running away from me?”

“No!” The denial bursts out of me. “No, Hailey, that’s not it at all. It’s just… my duties as prince come first. You know that.”

But even as I say the words, they ring hollow in my ears. The truth is, I am running away. From my feelings for her — which I’m still waiting to miraculously go away — and from the terrifying reality of impending fatherhood.

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. “I understand,” she says softly. “Duty comes first.”

I long to reach out and take her in my arms, to promise her that everything will be all right. But I can’t. Not when I’m not sure of anything anymore.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. Then I turn and walk away, hating myself with every step.

Three hours later, I board the royal jet with a heavy heart. Simon — sent by his father to oversee the talks from a financial viewpoint — is already on board, lounging in one of the plush leather seats with a glass of scotch in hand.

“Well, well,” he drawls as I take my seat across from him. “Someone’s in a mood today.”

I glare at him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Come on, Luca. I know you better than that. What’s going on?”

I clench my jaw, staring out the window as the plane taxis down the runway. Part of me longs to unburden myself to him, to confess the truth about Hailey and the baby. But I can’t. Not yet. Not when just thinking about it all guts me.

“Nothing,” I mutter. “Just tired.”

Simon studies me for a long moment, then shrugs. “If you say so. But you know I’m here if you need to talk, right?”

I nod, grateful for his friendship even as I push him away. “I know. Thanks.”

As the plane lifts off, I close my eyes and try to push all thoughts of Hailey from my mind. But it’s impossible. She’s a part of me now, whether I like it or not. And sooner or later, I’m going to have to face that fact… and all the messy bits that come with it.

The flight stretches on, and even though it’s only a couple of hours to Prague, it feels like I’ve been stuck in this cabin for days. The silence between Simon and me grows more and more oppressive with each passing minute. I try to focus on the briefing documents in front of me, but the words blur together on the page, my mind too consumed with thoughts of Hailey and our unborn child.

I’m doing the right thing… right?

Of course I am. How can I even ask myself that? And yet…

Finally, I can’t take it anymore. I set the papers aside with a sigh, rubbing my temples.

“Hailey’s pregnant,” I blurt out.

Simon’s head snaps up from where he’s been looking at his phone, his eyes wide with shock. “Excuse me? What?”

I nod, the words tumbling out of me in a rush. “She’s pregnant. With my child. And it has to stay a secret, Simon. No one can know. The palace lawyers are already drawing up contracts to ensure the staff’s silence.”

He stares at me, his mouth agape. “Ensure their silence? Why?”

Does he really not see it? “Because it would be a scandal of epic proportions. It’s exactly what my opponents?—”

“Screw your opponents. Why are you thinking about them right now?”

My jaw clenches. “It’s not them I’m really concerned about. It’s our people. They need me to be a role model.”

His eyes narrow. “And you’re doing it by lying? By keeping your girlfriend and child a secret?”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

He snorts. “And that makes this look better?”

I turn my surly gaze out the window, where I stare into the clouds as if they might provide me with some alternative course of action. Of course they don’t, and I’m stuck with sticking to the plan I’ve drafted up, despite how much it hurts.

“How long are you planning on keeping this a secret?” Simon presses.

When I don’t answer, he laughs dryly. “Wait. Forever?”

“Of course.” I turn back to him. “I can’t just come out and announce?—”

“But… but this is huge, Luca. This changes everything. You’re going to be a father. Surely you see what this means for you and Hailey?”

I look away again, my jaw clenching. “It doesn’t mean anything. We’re not together, Simon. This baby… it doesn’t change that.”

“Like hell it doesn’t!” he snaps, leaning forward in his seat. “Luca, this is a sign. You and Hailey are meant to be together. Can’t you see that?”

I feel a flare of irritation at his words. “Don’t be ridiculous!” I snap back. “She and I… we’re from different worlds. It would never work. Plus, if we did end up together, it would be a pregnancy out of wedlock — extremely unconventional. And if we did get married, it would be obvious that we are trying to cover for the pregnancy. Everyone would be shocked. It would be a scandal that PR could never fix.”

“You don’t know that,” he insists. “You’re just too stubborn to see what’s right in front of you. For all you know, the people would be happy for you, happy to see you happy?—”

I shake my head, my temper rising. “Enough. Thank you for your input, but I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

He opens his mouth to argue, but something in my expression must stop him. He sits back with a sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

The rest of the flight passes in tense silence. When we finally land, I’m the first one off the plane, my steps quick and purposeful as I try to put as much distance between myself and my best friend as possible.

But even as I walk away, I can feel his gaze boring into my back, his words echoing in my mind. And deep down, I know he’s partially right. Not about me and Hailey being meant for each other — although, God, I wish that were true — but about this baby changing everything.

Because it certainly does. Whether I like it or not.